Combustion, the most important commercial reaction, entails toxic emissions and damaging temperatures. Initiation is not free radical, but rather anionic Br�nsted deprotonation of hydrocarbons by super base oxygen radical anions (O?�), generated by Seebeck electron transfers to hot surface O2 molecules. Higher energy electron transfers then give free radicals. Pulsed +/- electrostatic fields increase rates at lower temperatures. Negative pulsing facilitates peroxide decompositions, forming radical anions; positive pulsings attract oxygen to surfaces. A 17-step carboxy (COOH) intermediacyhas been proposed. We suggest three-steps: electrons attack oxygen molecules, forming powerfully basic oxygen radical anion (O?�) which attack other oxygens, forming trioxygen radical anions. These deprotonate hydrocarbons forming carbanions and HOOO radicals, linking (with catalytic resurrection of O?�) to form non-carbonyl hydroperoxides. In what is described as a �Scorpio� rearrangement, these form recently discovered enols. Theoretically only electrostatic fields are needed -- no electric current; but grounding will cause currents.Though fire extinguishing, water can cause huge fire intensities, with generation of water gas (CO and H2). Using electrostatic fields in water gas reactions with water as oxidizer, electrostatic fields provide rate and yield increases. Charcoal and 900oC steam alone evolve very small water gas amounts; with � 5 kV charging, gas evolves vigorously at 260oC. Once commenced, CO and H2 evolutionbegin to decline, due to O?� consumption.Non-volatile fuels (narrow 2% to 4% flammability levels) burn incompletely, with soot, air pollution, and high temperature NOx emissions and engine damage. Water gas (2% to 75% flammability) burns completely to H2O and CO2 with no non-volatile emissions or residues. With cheap electrostatic field generation, water gas forms in high yields at low (200oC) temperatures. This may enable centralized in situ  water gas generation with steam and conventional fuel injection, and direct water gas feed to contiguous diesel engines, using engine heat.

Electrostatic facilitation of electron catalysis in oxidations: The water gas reaction

246th National Meeting (2013)

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